Korean Deep Tech Startups Eye U.S. Market Expansion

Nine South Korean deep tech startups recently pitched at the DETO 2026 conference in Seoul to secure a position in the Startup Battlefield 200 competition at next year's TechCrunch Disrupt, according to TechCrunch.

While the group spans sectors including healthcare, fintech, and AI, several firms are presenting hardware-centric plays for international markets. Among them is Seoul-based Awesome Lab, which developed ThermoFlux, a heating system utilizing ionization and water electrolysis for industrial processes, water supply, and buildings. To scale in the U.S., Awesome Lab intends to partner with HVAC, water heater, and boiler companies to supply core OEM modules.

Other hardware and infrastructure-focused firms include:

* **Ternell**: An Ulsan-based semiconductor startup founded by former Samsung Electronics engineer KyungRok Kim. The company is developing T-SRAM, a memory system that adds a third state to reduce power usage in AI chips. Ternell reports that 28-nanometer chip tests showed a 55% to 71% reduction in data access energy and a 33% to 102% increase in memory capacity per area compared to standard SRAM. * **EFLOW**: A developer of actuators and specialized motors designed to provide higher torque in smaller footprints for satellites, drones, and robotics. * **DeepFusion AI**: A firm creating a customizable, single-unit imaging system that integrates lidar, radar, and RF sensors for defense, maritime surveillance, and autonomous mobility. * **Riibotics**: A robotics firm focused on reducing warehouse deployment costs through streamlined mapping and system integration.

In the healthcare sector, Voinosis—founded by former otologic surgeon Grace Shin—won the competition. The startup uses AI to analyze speech patterns for brain health screening and is currently raising a Series A round.